Cloth-sponging machine.



H. GUTTRIDGE.

CLOTH SPONGING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1916.

1,218,646. Patented Mar.13,l917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 gnve'nloz H. GUTTRIDGE.

CLOTH SPONGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. I916.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. GUTTRIDGE. CLOTH SPONGINGMACHiNE APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1916.

1,218,646. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- TTED TATE PATENT anion.

HARRY GUTTRIIJGE, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

CLOTH-SPONGING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 13, 1917.

Application filed June 12, 1916. Serial No. 103,299.

and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cloth- Sponging Machines, of which the followlng vis a specification.

This invention relates to the general subject of cloth finishing and has particular reference to a novel improvement in-cloth sponging and shrinking machines.

To this end the invention has in View a simple and practical machine involving special features of construction whereby the cloth may be readily and thoroughly moistened in the sponging operation, and thereby properly shrunk. In this connection the invention proposes to provide a novel form of apparatus including a steam chest or cabinet which may be adjusted by the operator to suit various requirements of use and facilitate the sponging operation. F urthermore, the invention proposes to provide a device offering a relatively large moistening surface whereby both sides of the cloth may be treated simultaneously in passing through the device, and subjected to the necessary degree of moisture for the requisite length of time to properly accomplish the desired results. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a strong and substantial device which is susceptible of a neat and attractive commercial embodiment and which will occupy but little floor space. Therefore, the

invention may be conveniently used in small tailoring establishments, although the essential features thereof are necessarily susceptible of embodiment in a machine of large proportions.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts,

hereinafter more fully described,illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cloth sponging machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the entire construction of the steam chest with the steam compartments thereof separated to permit the entrance of the goods.

Fig. at is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the relative position of parts when goods is being fed through the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Similar references designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of.

the drawings.

In carrying the present invention into effect, it is proposed to employ a suitable frame work F, including the upright standards 1, the rectangular top frame portion 2, the transverse side frame members 3, and suitable bracing members l. At one side of the frame wor: there is provided a suitable cloth receiving table 5 arranged convenient to a master feed roll 6. This feed roll is journaled in suitable bearings 7, mounted 011 the upper side of the top frame portion 2, and is preferably provided at one end with an operating handle 8, and at the other end with a sprocket wheel 9, operating a chain 10 which engages with a sprocket wheel 11 carried by another feed roll 12 in the lower part of the frame. This latter feed roll is mounted in the stationary bearings 13 secured to the transverse side frame members 3, and therefore, with the arrange ment described, it will be apparent that when the master feed roll 6 is rotated by means of the handle 8, the fixed feed roll 12 will also be operated through the chain 10. The connected feed rolls 6 and 12 are res'pectively located at the receiving and delivery ends of a moisture chest 0 arranged within the frame-work F of the device, and the roll 6 is assisted in its feeding operationby means of an idler roll 14:. This idler roll is journaled as at 15 in the swinging frame 16, which is hinged as at 17 to the top of the frame-work 2, whereby the said roll may be swung into and out of contact with the fixed roll 6, as shown by the full and dotted line positions thereof in Fig. 2. The fixed feed roll 12 at the end of the moisture chest is assisted in its feeding action by means of an idler roll 18, which is mounted in the journal blocks 19.

As will be observed from Fig. 2, the said journal blocks 19 are mounted on anangle member 20, the body of which rests on the upper surface of the cross brace 3, while one end 21 thereof is disposed in a perpendiculower or outlet I lar plane, and offset from the journal block. Each journal block is held to its angle member 20 by means of suitable bolts 22, the lower ends of which are adapted to receive suitable fastening nuts, and ride in the slot 23 of the cross brace. For the purpose of maintaining the roll 18 in contact with the periphery of the fixed feed roll 12, one of the bolts 22 is connected to a spring 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. it will, of course, be understood that the construction just described, whereby the roll 18 is made shiftablc, is duplicated at the other end of the roll, and therefore, a single operating device may be utilized to engage with the up: standing ends 21 of the angle members'on which the journal blocks are mounted, to move the same against the tension of the springs 24. Accordingly, there is provided at each side of the frame work F a suitable shifting lever 25 pivoted at 26 in one of the cross braces 27 of the frame work, and having its lower end arranged to engage the upstanding portion 21 of the angle member 20, while its opposite end is pivotally connected as at 28 with one of the arms 29 of a substantially U-shaped operating handle 30. The arms of this operating handle are slidable through the straps 31 on the upright standards 1 of the frame, whil the transverse portion thereof constitutes a convenient hand grip.

Referring now to the moisture chest or cabinet C which is arranged within the frame work F, it will be observed that the same essentially comprises the opposite hollow cabinet sections 32 and 33, the former being rigidly supported between the cross brace 27 and top frame portion 2, while the latter is shiftably mounted whereby it may be moved toward and from the fixed section In order to provide for the relative adjustment of the section 33 with respect to the section 32, the shiftable section is provided with the side extension flanges 34, clearly shown in Fig. 5, which overlap the side edges of the section 32, and permit of one section being moved with respect to the other and at the same time maintain an inclosed cloth feeding passage P, as shown in Fig. Each of the hollow cabinet sections may be of substantially triangular form, and have the relatively large flat moisture diffusin plates or base walls 35, which latter are preferably perforated as shown, to permit the moist vapor to freely circulate through the interior of each section to the goods being fed through the variable passageway P. In this connection, it may be noted that each section is provided with an interior steam pipe 36 whose jet orifices 37 are directed toward the outer walls of the section, in order that steam issuing therefrom will not strike directly against the perforated wall 35 and thus come in direct contact with the goods. Each steam pipe 36 is fed by a common supply pipe connection 38, and i the case of the section 32, the pipe 36 within the same may ipe 38 by means of a rigid section 39, but in the case of the movable section 33, it is necessary to connect the pipe 36 therein with the pipe 38 by means of a flexible connection 40, preferably a stout rubber tube.

Referring further to the novel, features of the steam chest C, it will be apparent that a novel and distinctive feature of the same resides in the provision of the movable or shiftable section 33, and referring to the novel features of construction whereby this section is shifted, it will be observed that the upper and lower ends thereof carry the laterally projecting studs 41 which ride in the horizontal slots 42, respectively, in the top frame portion 2 and cross brace 27. This section also carries at each side thereof, a horizontally arranged shifter bar 43, the rear ends of which are slidably mounted in the straps 44, while the forward ends slide in the straps 31, previously referred to. For the purpose of moving the shifter bars 43 rigidly carried by the section 33, an operators handle 45 is provided. Like the handle 30, this member is of substantially U- shaped form and includes the arms 46 pivoted at their lower ends, asindicated at 47 in the cross brace 27, while their intermediate portions are pivotally connected as at 48 with the shifter bars 43. WVith this arrangement, it will be apparent that upon moving the handle 45 the section 33 may be moved toward and from the section 32 to vary the size of the cloth passage 1? as desired.

From the foregoing it willbe apparent that the device provides for feeding the material to be sponged or shrunk from the opcrators table 5 into and through the steam chest C, by means of the feed rolls 6-14 and 12-1S, and in order to permit of the goods being initially passed between the cabinet sections the latter may be moved apart to permit the cloth to freely pass between the moisture plates 35 of each section. The relative position of parts of the apparatus to permit of the initial placing of the material therein, isshown in Fig. 3, while the position of the parts, when the material is being treated is shown in Fig. 4. Therefore it will be apparent that the present invention aims to provide a device which includes a substantially closed cloth feeding passageway of variable area, whereby not only material of varying thickness may be readily given the proper sponging treat ment, but also the cloth may be initially fed into the apparatus with ease and facility, and subsequently treated with the necessary degree of moisture in a practical and efficient manner. By reason of the telescoping cabinet sections, the present device also has be connected with the the advantage of confining and concentrating all of the moisture from each of the steam pipes directly on the material, and by reason of the length and extended area of the perforated plates 35, the cloth is given a prolonged moisture treatment which materially contributes to the thorough treatment thereof.

Without further description it is thought that the many features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cloth sponging machine including a moisture chest comprising a stationary section, and an adjustable section, shiftable toward and from said stationary section to provide a cloth feeding passageway of variable width, and sets of feeding'elements arranged at the inlet and outlet ends of said chest, each set including a fixed element adj acent the stationary section, and an adjustable element for the shiftable section.

2. A cloth sponging machine comprising a moisture chest including an upright standard section, an upright shiftable section telescopically engaging at its lateral edges with said stationary section, and sets of feeding elements arranged at the upper and lower ends of said chest, each set including a relatively fixed feeding element for the stationary section, and an adjustable feed element for the shiftable section.

3. A cloth sponging machine comprising a frame including vertical standards and horizontal frame elements, a moisture chest carried by said horizontal elements, said chest comprising separate sections one of which is rigidly mounted in the frame, and the other of which is movable therein and carries laterally projecting studs adapted to ride in slots formed in the frame elements, and cloth feeding means located at the inlet and outlet ends of said steam chest.

4. A cloth sponging machine comprising a frame including vertical standards and horizontal frame elements, guide straps carried by said vertical standards, horizontal cross bars connecting. the same, a moisture chest including a fixed section, and another section mounted in shiftable relation there to, said shiftable section carrying laterally projecting studs adapted to slide in slots formed in the horizontal frame elements, and also carrying therewith supporting bars slidably engaging in the guide straps, means for moving said shiftable section comprising a handle element including arm portions having their free ends pivoted in the cross bars of the frame and having their intermediate portions pivotally connected with the supporting bars carried by the shiftable section.

5. A cloth sponging machine comprising a frame, a feeding unit at the top of said frame including a fixed driving roll and a swingingly mounted idler roll, a moisture chest, and a feeding unit at the lower end of said chest and including a fixed feed roll having a chain and sprocket connection with a fixed driving roll of the upper feeding unit, and a horizontally shiftable idler roll, journal blocks carrying said idler roll, angle plates slidably mounted on said brace elements and carrying the journal blocks, springs connected with said angle plates for drawing said idler roll toward said fixed roll, pivotal levers for engaging said angle plates, and a handle device pivotally connected with said levers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY GUTTRIDGE. Witnesses:

C. C. RUDIBAUGH, HELEN MEEKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

